Creamline overcomes ZUS Coffee, stays perfect

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Dec 12, 2024 07:28 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Creamline leaned on its veteran poise as it turned back ZUS Coffee with a hard-earned 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13 victory to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, Dec. 12. 

Creamline leaned on its veteran poise as it turned back ZUS Coffee with a hard-earned 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13 victory to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Alyssa Valdez flashes her vintage form and scores 17 points for Creamline. (PVL Images)

Skipper Alyssa Valdez rediscovered her old touch and carried the cudgels for the Cool Smashers, firing 17 points on 16 attacks and one block.

The win stretched Creamline’s streak to four games, tying with Cignal at the helm.

Despite stumbling in the fourth set that put their backs against the wall, the Cool Smashers still held their ground and unleashed fiery assaults entering the pivotal fifth frame.

But the Thunderbelles refused to give up, grabbing an 11-9 lead with Thea Gagate at the forefront of their attack.

It turned out to be ZUS Coffee’s last stand as Creamline pounced on the Thunderbelles to grab the triumph.

Bernadeth Pons also paced with 17 points for Creamline, which overcame ZUS Coffee’s solid net defense after posting 11 blocks. 

Jema Galanza also sizzled with 15 points while Michele Gumabao was equally unstoppable with 14 points.

Kate Santiago and Gagate had 19 and 16 points, respectively, while Michele Gamit and Glaudine Troncoso combined for 24 points for ZUS Coffee, which absorbed its third loss in five games.

Capital1, 3 others launch PVL All-Filipino title bids

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Nov 11, 2024 02:26 PM 

AT A GLANCE

• Four more teams including Capital1 launch their respective title bids on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

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Four more teams including Capital1 launch their respective title bids on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Capital1 hopes to carry the intensity brought by former import Marina Tushova in its All-Filipino Conference campaign. (PVL Images)

The Solar Spikers clash with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap hoping to make an impact after a seventh place finish in the last Reinforced Conference, while the Nxled Chameleons and the PLDT High Speed Hitters collide at 4 p.m.

Winners of the two matches will join opening-day victors Petro Gazz and Akari in this grueling, six-month conference that promises intense and heated action.

Capital1 seeks to showcase a new look with its mix of seasoned and promising players, and is expected to draw strength from the experience brought by former import Marina Tushova.

“We want to keep that drive and intensity brought by Marina. She set a good example and gave a higher bar of performance and we learned so much from her,” said Capital1 team manager Hollie Reyes.

Veterans Heather Guinoo, Jorelle Singh and Shola Alvarez are set to lead the Solar Spikers along with the young guns like Leila Cruz.

Chery Tiggo, for its part, is moving forward from the departures of star players Eya and EJ Laure, and Buding Duremdes, under a new coach in Normal Miguel and veterans Mylene Paat, Aby Maraño and Ara Galang.

In the other pairing, PLDT is leaning on Fil-Canadian Savi Davison to provide firepower along with seasoned players Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes and Jovie Prado, against another revamped team in Nxled, which has a new coach in Italian Ettore Guidetti.

“The team is a defensive one, so I don’t need to spend too much time on that. They love to dig. Normally, it’s difficult to score on the first attempt against my team, so right now we’re trying to raise the bar in other areas,” said Guidetti, who casts his eyes on May Luna, Lycha Ebon and Jaila Atienza.

 

Lifter Peralta bags bronze in world junior tourney

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Sep 21, 2024 12:54 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Jhodie Peralta added another medal in the Team Philippines’ war chest after scooping one bronze medal in the IWF World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Leon, Spain on Friday, Sept. 20.

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Jhodie Peralta added another medal in the Team Philippines’ war chest after scooping one bronze medal in the IWF World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Leon, Spain on Friday, Sept. 20.

Jhodie Peralta,center. (IWF)

Peralta posted 85 kilos for the third-best lift in snatch in the women’s 55kg division, finishing behind eventual gold medalist Chen Guan-Ling of Chinese Taipei (98 kilos) and silver winner Gelen Yulieth Torres Gomez of Colombia (89 kilos).

The Filipina bet, however, tumbled at seventh in clean and jerk with a 102-kilo performance, eventually affecting her total where she landed fifth with 187 kilos. 

Chen grabbed the gold with a total lift of 217 kilos after also topping clean and jerk (119 kilos), while Torres Gomez finished silver with 192 kilos.

Aleksandra Grigoryan of Armenia settled for bronze with a 191-kilo total after placing seventh in snatch (81 kilos) and silver in clean and jerk (110 kilos).

Meanwhile, Rosalinda Faustino failed in all attempts in the same weight class.

Overall, the Nationals have four gold medals and two bronzes courtesy of Lovely Inan and Angeline Colonia. 

One more lifter is set to compete for the PH team with Albert Ian Delos Santos seeing action in men’s 67kg.

Galanza returns as Cool Smashers sweep Foxies ahead of Invitational finals

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Sep 11, 2024 06:20 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Jema Galanza returned to Creamline duties with a bang as the Cool Smashers blasted the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19, ahead of their finals stint in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

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Jema Galanza returned to Creamline duties with a bang as the Cool Smashers blasted the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19, ahead of their finals stint in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Jema Galanza finally sees action for Creamline. (PVL Images)

Galanza, fresh from her stint with the national team, came off the bench in the second set and delivered 13 points built on 11 kills and two blocks to lead the Cool Smashers to a four-game sweep of the preliminaries.

They await the winner between Cignal and defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze for the winner-take-all finals.

Creamline refused to slow down even after winning the Reinforced Conference, exposing Farm Fresh sluggish plays by pumping in 51 attacks, five blocks and three aces.

So weak were the Foxies particularly in their defense that they laid a big fat egg on blocks despite 35 tries. No player also managed to land a single ace.

Everybody contributed a little of everything for Creamline with recently crowned Reinforced Conference and Finals MVP Bernadeth Pons posting eight points, Michele Gumabao adding seven, and Lorie Lyn Bernardo chipping in six points.

Japanese import Asaka Tamaru  scored 10 points in a losing cause for Farm Fresh, which finished with a 0-4 card.

Alas Women bow anew to Saga Hisamitsu Springs

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Sep 8, 2024 06:52 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Alas Pilipinas Women showed great resolve before succumbing to nine-time Japan champion Saga Hisamitsu Springs, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19, in an invitational game on Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

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Alas Pilipinas Women showed great resolve before succumbing to nine-time Japan champion Saga Hisamitsu Springs, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19, in an invitational game on Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Alyssa Solomon unloaded two points and joined forces with Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma and Vanie Gandler to give the Nationals a 16-12 second-set lead before the Japanese quickly regrouped to regain the momentum for the victory.

Opposite hitter Mika Yoshitake spearheaded Hisamitsu Springs with 16 points including 14 attacks while Ayane Kitamado poured all her nine points on kills as the visiting Japanese team swept the weekend event.

Sae Nakajima also scored for the Japanese with nine points including seven attacks.

Alas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito said the two-game exposure against the Japanese team is a big boost to the team in future international stints like the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next year.

“We need to give exposure to all of them... We need more matches at this level. We need international-level play since we’re the national team,” said de Brito.

Maddie Madayag to join Kurobe Aqua Fairies in Japan league

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Sep 2, 2024 08:29 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Maddie Madayag became the latest Filipina to sign with a foreign club after the Kurobe Aqua Fairies announced on Monday, Sept. 2, it is adding the Choco Mucho middle blocker to their lineup.

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Maddie Madayag became the latest Filipina to sign with a foreign club after the Kurobe Aqua Fairies announced on Monday, Sept. 2, it is adding the Choco Mucho middle blocker to their lineup.

This would be Madayag first international stint, where she is expected to debut for Kurobe  on Oct. 13 when the team battles the SAGA Hisamitsu Springs at the start of the Japan SV. League 2024-25 season. 

The development would also mean that the 5-foot-11 middle blocker will miss the All-Filipino Conference for the Flying Titans.

Choco Mucho expressed its support for Madayag, who won Best Middle Blocker in the 2018 and 2024 PVL All-Filipino. 

“We're incredibly proud of you, Maddie, for seizing this amazing opportunity in your career. Your Choco Mucho Flying Titans fam is with you every step of the way,” said the team in a statement. 

“We can't wait to welcome you back stronger than ever!” the statement added.

Other Filipinos who are competing in Japan are Jia De Guzman for Denso Airybees and Jaja Santiago for Osaka Marvelous.

The Aqua Fairies placed 11th out of the 12 teams last season in the then-V.League Division 1.

Cool Smashers sweep Angels, complete semis cast

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Aug 27, 2024 09:29 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Creamline sucked the fuel dry out of Petro Gazz as it hammered out a vengeful 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory on Tuesday night, Aug. 27, to complete the semifinal cast in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

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Creamline sucked the fuel dry out of Petro Gazz as it hammered out a vengeful 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory on Tuesday night, Aug. 27, to complete the semifinal cast in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Creamline books another semifinal stint at the expense of Petro Gazz. (PVL Images)

The multi-titled Cool Smashers displayed their formidable championship form to deny the Angels their bid of extending their championship reign after winning the 2019 and 2022 Reinforced Conference editions.

Erica Staunton delivered the telling blows for Creamline by pumping in 19 points built on 16 kills and three blocks, while Bernadeth Pons provided ample support with 16 points including 15 from attacks. 

The Cool Smashers needed one hour and 33 minutes to dispose of the Angels, firing 51 attacks and posting seven blocks en route to the win that set them up a semis meeting with the Cignal HD Spikers on Thursday, Aug. 29.

It also extended their semis stint in the league from 2017.

Creamline’s victory also silenced the efforts of Wilma Salas and Brooke Van Sickle, who scored 18 points apiece in a losing effort for Petro Gazz.

Eala barges into quarters vs former world No. 1 Sara Errani in Italy tilt

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Jun 21, 2024 09:28 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The 19-year-old Eala overpowered local bet Giorgia Pedone, 6-3, 6-3, for her first-ever quarters appearance in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.

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Alex Eala crushed her fellow unseeded rival to arrange a thrilling quarterfinal showdown with former world No. 1 Sara Errani in the Veneto Open in Gaiba, Italy on Thursday, June 20.

Alex Eala books her first WTA quarterfinals appearance at the Veneto Open. (Tournament site)

The 19-year-old Eala overpowered local bet Giorgia Pedone, 6-3, 6-3, for her first-ever quarters appearance in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.

But her skills will be put to test anew as she faces hometown star and fourth seed Errani, who survived the gritty plays of Ukraine’s Katarina Zavatska, 7-6 (4), 7-5. 

This wouldn’t be the first time that Eala and Errani are facing each other. The Filipina tennis sensation hopes to duplicate her previous feat against the five-time Grand Slam doubles champion at the first qualifying round of the Miami Open last March where she prevailed 6-3, 6-1.

Her latest performance is also a big boost in her bid for the qualifying round of the 2024 Wimbledon set on July 1.

Prior to beating Pedone, Eala opened her campaign in her second grass tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over France’s Carole Monnet.

 

Rondina, Canino join forces as collegiate, pro players banner PH team in AVC Cup

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

  

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AT A GLANCE

• A mix of professional and collegiate players will comprise the Philippine women’s volleyball team that will compete in the 2024 AVC Cup happening on May 22 to 29 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

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A mix of professional and collegiate players will comprise the Philippine women’s volleyball team that will compete in the 2024 AVC Cup happening on May 22 to 29 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Sisi Rondina, left, and Angel Canino banner the PH team in the AVC Cup.

Former Premier Volleyball League Most Valuable Player Sisi Rondina and last season’s UAAP MVP Angel Canino of De La Salle headline the squad that will be handled by outgoing coach Jorge de Brito.

PVL players in the lineup are returning Japan V.League import Jia De Guzman, Chery Tiggo’s Eya Laure and Jen Nierva, Cignal’s Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, Akari’s Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos and Choco Mucho’s Chery Nunag.

Collegiate players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel, as well as University of the East’ Casiey Dongallo are also part of the crew.

Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara said they are awaiting for the green light on several collegiate players from National University and University of Santo Tomas, who are competing in the UAAP Season 86 finals at press time.

A total of 10 teams are competing this edition, with host Philippines bracketed in Pool A along with Chinese Taipei, India, Iran and Australia.

Pool B comprises Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Rondina recently showed her excitement and enthusiasm to don the national colors while being fresh from Choco Mucho’s runner-up finish in the PVL All-Filipino Conference against Creamline.